Pilot Debrief

BELL 47G-5 near Watsonville, CA — 2011-07-20

Final reportWPR11CA339
Sign in to save
Date
2011-07-20
Location
Watsonville, CA, USA
Aircraft
BELL 47G-5
Registration
N1375X
Category
Helicopter
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a pole while maneuvering during an aerial application flight.

NTSB narrative

During an aerial application flight, the pilot was spraying water on a field to wash the hopper tank for the next load of chemicals. During the second pass, the pilot attempted to clear a wire that ran perpendicular to his flight path by descending beneath it at an altitude of approximately 5 feet. The pilot reported that the outer end of one main rotor blade struck the pole and the helicopter impacted the ground and rolled over.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • 1 docket document
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents1

Related mishaps